Harbour

Saint-Étienne-des-Sorts

2.0Saint-Étienne-des-Sorts, France

Maximum length: 78 ft
Maximum draught: 9 ft

Two-berth seasonal river pontoon on the Rhône at Saint-Étienne-des-Sorts, a wine village in the Gard about 12 km north of Roquemaure, in place roughly April to September and removed in winter.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Access via the Rhône between the locks of Bollène and Caderousse, managed by CNR. About 3 metres alongside the pontoon. The reach is wide and open, in the path of the mistral, so it can be very choppy, and wash from barges and hotel boats sets the pontoon rolling. When the pontoon is out of the water, the only hold is a line of rings painted on the quay wall, from which it is hard to get ashore. It is the last mooring northbound for about 35 km before a long canal section where anchoring is not allowed.

Practical

Two visitor berths only, free, with a 24 hour limit. No water on the pontoon. No electricity on the pontoon itself, but the quay has several 16 A sockets and a 32 A socket, needing a long cable of up to 50 metres. Village shops, bakery and restaurants within walking distance. Next stops are the Bollène pontoons 6.9 and 7.4 NM to the north.

Ashore

Village located in the Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC area, with Saint-Étienne-des-Sorts named as one of the communes allowed the geographical denomination since 2016. Several wine estates open for tasting within the village, and a wine shop about 300 m from the pontoon that will deliver to the quay.